All Upcoming NSO Events

National Symphony Orchestra

National Symphony Orchestra

Puccini: 3 One-Act Operas – Il trittico

Apr. 29 - May 1, 2026

Step into a world of passion, tragedy, and deception with Puccini’s Il trittico, a trio of one-act operas led by world-renowned opera conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Suor Angelica plunges into the depths of sacrifice behind convent walls. Il tabarro unveils a shadowy tale of love and betrayal along the Seine. Gianni Schicchi turns deception into delight in a sharp-witted comedy of intrigue. Three stories, three distinct worlds—one unforgettable evening of Opera in Concert.

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National Symphony Orchestra

Hisaishi conducts Hisaishi

May 14 - 16, 2026

Joe Hisaishi is renowned for his fantastical scores to Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli films—along with his sensitive symphonic and solo works. In this program, Hisaishi conducts the world premiere of his Concerto for Orchestra and the latest concert version of music from The Boy and the HeronPlease note: this concert is presented without film.

National Symphony Orchestra

Top Gun: Maverick in Concert

May 20 - 21, 2026

Top Gun: Maverick in Concert features the NSO performing the original music score composed by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, and Hans Zimmer and produced by Lorne Balfe. Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his past, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it. Rated PG-13 

National Symphony Orchestra

Appalachian Spring & Mahler’s First

May 29 - 30, 2026

Charles Ives’ Three Places in New England paints an evocative portrait of history and memory. Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite follows—a radiant work of optimism crowned by its iconic “Shaker” melody. Conductor James Gaffigan closes the evening with Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, charting a youthful “Wayfarer’s” journey through darkness to a triumphant, heroic climax.

National Symphony Orchestra

Kennedy Center Chamber Players: Summer Concert

Sun. May 31, 2026

Comprising titled musicians of the NSO, this acclaimed ensemble presents an afternoon of chamber music masterworks by Johann Sebastian Bach and Antonín Dvořák.

National Symphony Orchestra

Porgy and Bess & Coleman Piano Concerto

Jun. 5 - 6, 2026

Michelle Cann, a champion of American composers and “pianist of sterling artistry” (Gramophone), returns to perform a world premiere by Valerie Coleman—named one of the “Top 35 Women Composers” by The Washington Post. Conductor Kellen Gray frames the evening with works reflecting the breadth of our nation’s story: Dvořák’s American Suite, inspired by his time in the U.S., and the Catfish Row suite from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

National Symphony Orchestra

An American in Paris & Barber Violin Concerto

Jun. 12 - 13, 2026

Karen Kamensek leads an evening of color and contrast featuring Adam Schoenberg’s American Symphony, Copland’s Lincoln Portrait, and Barber’s lyrical Violin Concerto featuring Johan Dalene in his NSO debut. The program culminates with Gershwin’s enormously popular An American in Paris—a vibrant, jazz-tinged celebration of city life through the eyes of an American abroad.

Sponsors

NSO Classical Presenting Sponsor

NSO Popular Presenting Sponsor

Noseda Era Fund Supporters, The Amici di Gianandrea, The Dr. Gary Mather and Christina Co Mather Fund for Under-Resourced Youth